Palms Fish Camp may be open by summer

[Houseboat Mike]

At last there's hope for the long-vacant Palms Fish Camp.
The North Jacksonville facility has a boat and pedestrian dock and ramp along with plenty of parking.

Yet, the distinct draw for the city-owned park has been the waterfront restaurant possibility. As it stands now, there's a shell where a former fish camp once stood.

The city bought the land in 2002, demolished the former restaurant, then contracted with a partnership group that sought to rebuild a family-friendly fish camp that would maintain the atmosphere of its predecessor.

Construction delays led to the issue being mired in a lawsuit starting in 2012, which derailed progress on the site.

City Council this summer approved a $125,000 settlement with that group, getting the issue out of the courtroom and opening it up to new possibilities.

The next opportunity could be with a group of neighborhood guys.

Legislation that will be introduced to council on Wednesday calls for an agreement with Palms Fish Camp Restaurant LLC for at least a 20-year lease.

The group's registered agent is Donald "Marshall" Adkison, CEO of Adkison Towing and a member of the city's Planning Commission.

Marc Hardesty, an attorney and partner with the group, said his, Adkison's and Jay MacKenzie's interest in the project comes locally — it's their neighborhood, as each are within walking distance of the site.

"We are, quite frankly, trying to come back bigger and better than ever," said Hardesty. "It will be a first-class restaurant, No. 1."

Full story here:
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=548686